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"DNA Study Reveals 3 Ancestral Groups Shaping Modern Japanese Population"

Originally Published 1 year ago — by Livescience.com

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Source: Livescience.com

A new study suggests that modern Japanese people descend from three ancestral groups, including Neolithic Jomon hunter-gatherers, ancient predecessors of the Han Chinese, and an unidentified group with ties to Northeast Asia. The research also reveals genetic ties with Neanderthals and Denisovans, with inherited DNA linked to complex traits and diseases. The findings, published in Science Advances, provide valuable insights into the genetic and medical characteristics of the Japanese population and could contribute to the development of personalized medicine.

"600,000-Year-Old Coffee Discovered: A Morning Brew with Ancient Origins"

Originally Published 1 year ago — by Newser

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Source: Newser

Researchers have discovered that the popular Coffea arabica coffee plant, commonly known as arabica, is approximately 600,000 years old, originating from natural crossbreeding of two other coffee species. By analyzing genes from coffee plants worldwide, the study aims to enhance protection against pests and climate change, providing valuable insights into the plant's evolution and resilience.

"Ancient Origins: The Surprising Age of Your Morning Coffee"

Originally Published 1 year ago — by Yahoo! Voices

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Source: Yahoo! Voices

Researchers have traced the origins of arabica coffee back 600,000 years through natural crossbreeding of two other coffee species, shedding light on its genetic makeup and vulnerabilities. The study, published in Nature Genetics, reveals how the plant's population fluctuated over time and highlights genetic clues that could help protect it from diseases like coffee leaf rust. Understanding arabica's past and present could aid in safeguarding the crop for future generations, ensuring a steady supply of the beloved beverage.

Maternal Sensitivity Shapes Infant Brain Responses to Happy Faces

Originally Published 1 year ago — by PsyPost

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Source: PsyPost

A recent study published in Developmental Science suggests that infants whose mothers engage more sensitively with them during play exhibit heightened brain activity in response to happy faces, particularly in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The findings highlight the link between early caregiving experiences and later emotional and social competencies, emphasizing the importance of positive maternal behaviors in shaping infant brain responses to emotional cues. However, the study's limitations include a relatively small and homogeneous sample size, as well as the need for future research to explore the role of other caregivers in a child's life.

"Tailoring Memorization Techniques to Different Situations"

Originally Published 1 year ago — by Futurity: Research News

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Source: Futurity: Research News

New experiments suggest that varying what we study and spacing out learning over time can both be helpful for retaining memories, depending on what is being remembered. The research found that spaced learning helped participants remember items, but memory was better for items paired with different scenes compared to items shown with the same scene repeatedly. Stability appeared to aid the type of memory that pairs items and scenes. The findings may have broad relevance to tasks such as studying for a test, remembering someone's name and details about them, and learning new vocabulary in a foreign language.

"The Impact of Formal Musical Training on Working Memory and Creativity"

Originally Published 1 year ago — by PsyPost

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Source: PsyPost

A study on young Italians suggests that formal musical training may strengthen the link between working memory and divergent thinking, a key component of creativity. The study found that individuals with formal musical education showed a stronger association between working memory and divergent thinking, indicating that musical training may enhance cognitive abilities related to creativity. However, the study's small sample size and age homogeneity suggest the need for further research across different demographics.

"Discovery of Sunken Island Loaded with Rare Earth Minerals Sparks Ownership Debate"

Originally Published 1 year ago — by SciTechDaily

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Source: SciTechDaily

Researchers from the University of São Paulo have discovered that the Rio Grande Rise, a submerged basaltic plateau in the South Atlantic Ocean, was once a tropical island teeming with minerals and lush vegetation between 45 million and 40 million years ago. The area harbors abundant cobalt, nickel, lithium, tellurium, and rare earth elements crucial for the energy transition. The findings, published in Scientific Reports, suggest potential economic opportunities but also highlight the need for environmental impact assessments to protect the ecosystem services and natural processes of the region.

Unveiling the Hidden Creator of COVID-19

Originally Published 1 year ago — by SciTechDaily

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Source: SciTechDaily

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have uncovered the crucial role of the M protein in shaping the SARS-CoV-2 virus, offering potential new avenues for combating other pathogenic coronavirus outbreaks. By developing a new method to produce large quantities of M protein and characterizing its physical interactions with the virus membrane, the team has gained insights into how the virus assembles itself. This groundbreaking research provides fundamental insights into the mechanisms driving SARS-CoV-2 viral assembly and could potentially enable interventions in viral formation not only in SARS-CoV-2 but also in other pathogenic coronaviruses.

"Unexplained Arctic Phenomena: Investigating from the Skies"

Originally Published 1 year ago — by The Debrief

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Source: The Debrief

The U.S. Naval Research Lab is investigating unexplained arctic phenomena associated with the sudden formation of intense "polar lows" through the Cold-Air outbreak Experiment in the Sub-Arctic Region (CAESAR) campaign, aiming to understand the meteorological processes underlying Arctic cold-air outbreaks (CAOs) that pose a threat to sailing vessels and impact Arctic weather systems. The NRL has assigned a research meteorologist to participate in the campaign, which utilizes a specialized C-130 aircraft equipped with remote sensing capabilities to collect data on the Arctic air mass. Understanding these phenomena is crucial for Navy operations and could provide vital data for boundary layer and coupled modeling studies.

"The Science of Memory Retention: Unveiling the Best Memorization Techniques"

Originally Published 1 year ago — by Study Finds

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Source: Study Finds

Psychologists at Temple University and the University of Pittsburgh have found that varying the material studied and spacing out study sessions over time are key strategies for enhancing memory, but their effectiveness depends on the nature of the information being memorized. The study emphasizes the impact of timing and content variability on memory, suggesting that both variability and spacing may present methods to improve memory for isolated features and associative information, respectively. Further research is needed to refine these strategies for specific learning objectives.